Over one thousand people, from children to seniors, took their portrait to be part of “Act The Thought,” an Action that stood against misinformation and championed informed dialogue. The initiative now extends as an exhibition at the Livraria Lello Foundation in Porto until June 2025.
Promoting Critical Thinking and Knowledge
Based in Leça do Balio, in the district of Porto, the Livraria Lello Foundation is a cultural organization dedicated to promoting critical thinking, access to knowledge, and empowering relationships between communities and heritage. Inspired by the literary heritage of Livraria Lello, the Foundation aims to encourage reading as a transformative tool. With the mission of "empowering people to read the world," the Foundation seeks to inspire actions that bring prosperity, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally rich society. This mission led us to create the Inside Out Action, a dynamic platform to engage the community on pressing issues like misinformation.
Addressing a Global Challenge
The Global Risks Report 2024, published by the World Economic Forum, identifies misinformation as the most serious and imminent risk for the next two years. The document highlights the various risks associated with misinformation, emphasizing its major impact on elections, social stability, public discourse, and, above all, freedom of information.
In response to this pressing and complex challenge, Livraria Lello Foundation launched an ambitious artistic manifesto through the participatory art project by Inside Out Project. The initiative, entitled "Act The Thought",ran from June 21st to July 7th at the Monastery of Leça do Balio and aimed to involve the community, from ages 2 to 82, from different contexts and backgrounds with the pressing issue of misinformation.
Participants waiting for their portrait. Photographer: Ines Ferreira, June 2024
Community Engagement and Visual Statement
"With the community, 'Act The Thought' was born from our deep concern about the spread of misinformation and its harmful impact on society. Our goal was to create an engaging experience that highlighted these dangers while empowering individuals to seek the truth and encourage informed dialogue," said Francisca Pedro Pinto, Creative Director. "The Action with the Inside Out Project allowed us to involve different community voices, who might not have been initially drawn to the topic, by creating a powerful visual statement."
The Inside Out Photobooth was central to this engagement, providing a hands-on, interactive element that drew people into the conversation. Participants had their portraits taken, contributing to a large-scale visual statement that emphasized the widespread impact of misinformation. The booth created an approachable entry point, allowing participants to engage deeply with the topic in a personal and meaningful way. Through the Photobooth on June 15th, over 300 people participated in the project.
To engage the public further about misinformation, the Livraria Lello Foundation took to the streets in search of supporters. We visited various locations in the Porto region, including Bolhão Market, Matosinhos Market, Trindade Metro Station, and multiple higher education institutions to take portraits of passersby. The response was overwhelming. In just a few days, we mobilized around 1,500 participants, resulting in a visually striking installation.
Participants' responses to the initiative were overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the crucial role of this initiative in promoting information literacy. Many parents requested more in-depth explanations for their children, particularly about the dangers of social media. Some participants were startled by the manipulated images we showed as examples. The elderly, in particular, sought clarification on identifying manipulated images and were visibly shaken and concerned about having been affected by them. These interactions underscored the critical importance of our efforts to educate and inform the public about misinformation.
The process of pasting the portraits onto various surfaces was both challenging and rewarding. Despite windy conditions making the initial stages difficult, the act of pasting became a conversation starter, drawing public interest and sparking discussions about misinformation.
Collage of the participant's portraits. Photographer: Ines Ferreira, June 2024
The Exhibition
Inside the monastery, an exhibition co-curated with UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance and the Fact-Checking Journal Polígrafo was made free to all who wished to know more.
The exhibition features black and white portraits, Inside Out’s signature style, symbolizing unity and the stark reality of misinformation’s impact. Additionally, a room dedicated to 20 personalities showcases the human costs of misinformation, using journals to emphasize the importance of journalists in protecting democracy. Personalities like Salman Rushdie and Malala Yousafzai exemplify the risks and consequences faced by individuals who stand for truth and education.
Another room features an educational setup, and, at the end, a curation of viral fake news and the fact-checking process applied to debunk them.
Visitors reacted positively, noting the importance of addressing misinformation, especially during election periods. The exhibition's setup encouraged visitors to pause, read, and think critically, mirroring the approach needed in daily information consumption.
Since the Action outside the monastery was short-lived and functioned as a powerful call to attention, Fundação Livraria Lello decided to perpetuate the work done with Inside Out on video. The exhibition includes a film documenting the process of collecting the portraits, showcasing the impressive mobilization involved.
Additionally, an immersive installation by contemporary artist Diana Policarpo, titled ALEA, explores misinformation through a multi-channel sound installation. ALEA addresses misinformation through a freer and sensory approach, using labor songs from the Portuguese folk repertoire to explore themes of freedom of speech, truth, and gossip as vehicles of communication and unity among women.
Participant with their picture. Photographer: Ines Ferreira, June 2024
Impact and Call to Action
“The response from the journalism community has been particularly impactful. Journalists, who often feel unheard and face significant challenges, found their struggles recognized and validated through our exhibition," said Francisca Pedro Pinto. "Their appreciation underscores the urgent need to protect and amplify their voices, especially in an era where their role in democracy is increasingly under threat."
By focusing on community engagement and creative expression, "Act The Thought" stands as a testament to the importance of truth and democracy. Livraria Lello Foundation's efforts exemplify the power of collective action in addressing misinformation, fostering a society equipped to discern truth in an era of pervasive misinformation. Inside Out, known as the people’s art project, was created to allow individuals worldwide to make a statement through large-scale black-and-white portraits. Its democratic nature makes it an effective tool for spreading key messages and engaging diverse audiences. The Inside Out Project's role in this initiative was crucial in bringing the issue of misinformation to the forefront, illustrating the power of art to drive social change.
The exhibition is on display until June 2025. Livraria Lello Foundation invites everyone to visit the exhibition, join the conversation, and be part of the collective effort to defend truth and promote a more informed, democratic world.
. Final installation, Photographer: Ines Ferreira, June 2024.
Click here to see more from this Action and listen to participant testimonies!